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“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God . . . began to wash the disciples’ feet . . .” (John13:3, 4).

Jesus took off the coat that He wore to Passover. He had dressed for an important religious dinner. He set the garqment aside and tied a towel around His waist. He poured a basin of water and knelt down on the floor in front of the dirty feet of His disciples. Their feet were not only covered in dirt and dust, but they also had traces of whatever droppings the animals may have left on the streets where they had walked.

To say that Jesus humbled Himself would be an understatement. Jesus, the Son of God, Creator of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Savior of the world . . . knelt down and washed dung from the feet of His followers; and He did it at a fancy dinner.

He should have been the guest of honor. Instead, He honored the other guests. Jesus knew who He was. Therefore, He served. Let me rephrase that. Jesus humbled Himself and washed the feet of the disciples because He knew the extent of His greatness.

In that day, as well as today, the act of washing feet is not something that would be fit for a king. Let alone, the King of kings. However, God’s Kingdom is different. Jesus’ greatness is what led Him to serve. If we are to follow in Jesus’ example, like we’re commanded to do, we must serve.

In John 13:15-17, Jesus not only tells us to follow His example, but that if we serve like He did, then we will be blessed. As a Christ-follower, the greatness that we aspire to have is the kind that prompts us to roll up our sleeves, get on our knees, and serve.

Like this:

Every year Forbes magazine runways its “Celebrity 100” a list of the most famous people in the world. They seem to have it all—fame, power, influence, and applause. Celebrity worship can quickly develop into a full-blown case of envy.

For three years Jesus had been training his disciples to take the anti-celebrity path, the way of being unknown and un-famous, the path of secret goodness and simple acts of mercy. When Jesus recites the horrific details of His soon coming death, the disciples started scrambling for the best seats in the house. Jesus is going to the cross, and they wanted to be stars.

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. She said, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:20-23).

Jesus insisted on the right way to become “famous” was to forget yourselves and serve others:

Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave” (Matthew 20:25-27).

Jesus became our servant and slave by offering His life as a ransom. A ransom is a payment offered on behalf of someone held captive against his will. This is the opposite way of thinking for the disciples and for ourselves. We could easily fall prey, just like the disciples, and want to be first in line for fame, power and influence.

Jesus, as a servant, has taken our place and died the death we should have died. Jesus in His service of humility to us became the Famous One. By His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has permanently taken the spot light of Greatness.

By His grace, this humble King invites us to join Him as His guests on the stage of redemption.

In Touch March 7, 2015
Kyla Frautschy campaigning for
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